By: Sharon Aron Baron
On Sunday morning, as I approached the Publix at Midway Plaza in Tamarac to buy groceries, I saw two adorable little girls dressed up in cheerleading outfits in front and wondered what they were selling. I knew I’d be suckered into buying either cookies or candy bars for their cause as I’m always a softy for little kids selling things.
I was surprised when one of the cute cheerleading girls approached me and offered me nothing. She just waved a bowl in front of me and asked me for money for their team.
I watched as the parent sat idly nearby and allowed this horrible lesson in entrepreneurship to go on. Shoppers were offered nothing in exchange for the money the team needed, as they were hoping for handouts from Publix shoppers that day.
Parents of the Tamarac Cougars who permitted this should look at the lesson they are teaching their children. As parents, we must make our children work for their money, and this lesson starts at an early age. Teaching children to panhandle to raise funds for causes or organizations negates your duty as parents and leaders.
From an early age, I was selling girl scout cookies, washing cars, or making really [badly] baked goods to sell for a quarter at bake sales. We never would think about approaching someone with a bowl and asking for money, and your children shouldn’t either.
Our next generation should not feel entitled to someone else’s money just because they need it. They must know how to earn it.
